Apparatus for shaping meat for smoking



Feb. 28, 1933. A. N. Bx-:NN 1,899,178

APPARATUS FOR SHAPING MEAT FOR SMOKING Filed Aug. 29. 1929 3 Sheets-Shea?l l Feb. 28, 1933. A. N. BENN APPARATUS FOR SHAPING MEAT FOR SMOKING Filed Aug. 29, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 28,1933.. A; N BENN 1,899,178

APPARATUS FOR SHAPING MEAT FOR SMOKING Filed Aug. 29. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ple, highly Patented -Febgza lesa y ALONZO NEWTONBENN,orcmcnGdaLmNois f Q, nrxvaltfvrtrs`ron SHAPIN'G MEAT-roasmokme a .Applicationk mea Anglia 29, 1929'. spermine, 389,157

My vinver'ition relates to an apparatusfor shaping meat for smokinfr.' f o i v y The principal lobject of my invention is to devise anxarrangementforj the carriage of meatduring the smoking thereof, particularly n bacon, Whichf permits a positive, initial shaping ofthe meat and: subsequent control theref of during the smoking process so that the final product presentsa more'y attractiveT and marketable form.

A further Vobject 'is'to provide an improved type-of basket for carrying the meat and simi strain; the meat intothe formV desired'v and y maintain the latter during thepsmoking operation. Q* l f ,f

A further object is to devise a lmethodof loading @a smokehouse trolleywherebyfthe meat is carriedina manner to effect-,a marked improvement 'in appearance yand shapey over that obtainable when the meat is 'simply `sus-"- p'ended ron'hooks,a;nd inwhich the' load capac'ityof the trolley approximates that of a trolleyr` arranged for the hook"method of smoking.k 'f f The present invention is intended as an improvement-onthe trolley illustrated and describedv in my UnitedStates `Letters Patent No.y 1,653,539, dated December `20, v1927,k principally in the way ofsmplication instructure and manner ofhandlinggand im,v

pro-ving the ca-pacityof the trolley, ,andwalso on my copending lapplication for smokehouse trolley, SerialNo;*371,339yin respect of the deviceswhich are utilized to `constrain 'and shape `the ineat during the smoking o ration.'`

` As statedin 'the` patent, the metho of`sup` porting meat on smokehouse trolleys'inwhich the sameis hung nponhooks whichiare mounted on lthe trolley frame is ,decidedly objectionable. The necessity of forcing the meat on the hooks createsk holes therethrough which become elongated under the actionof gravityKL according to differentdegrees with consequent distortion in the shape of the meat and the creation of -an'firregular outline thereof, allowing uneven contraction land displacef ment to take placebctween the fatty and lean portions ofthe meat,` In addition' t0 the effective, and easily positioned'de-y vices operating therewith which initially con- 'misshapen appearance of bacon :smokediad cording to this method, ythe holes formed byl s the hook lbecome lcharred and blackened, so

that this end ofthe meat requires considerable g5, L

trimming before it can be placed in amark'ete able condition.`

The foregoing economic wasteis avoided accordingjto the use yof my structure, as well as ythe haphaza'rd method VLof rhandling theJ bacon in order to achieve the desired shape 60 'l thereof/f The use of my structure permits a o positive, controlled initial shaping ofthe com` paratively soft and pliable ypieces iotmeat prior to smoking and thesubs'equent holding of theshape during the latter process, sothat 654 the general'j appearancey kand shape of the bacon ,is greatly 4improved with consequent advantages fromV the, standpoint .of market` ability.- This initial shaping r of the meatis production rate of the; smoking process. Y

These and further objects yof my invention Will be' set forth in the followingspecification, reference being had `to the accompany-v ing drawings, and the novel means by which;

said objects are effectuated will'be' definitely 'ad pointed out in the claims;

In; the drawings: y Figure y showing the method of loading the same with a plurality ofmeat-hlding baskets;

f FigQis a section alonggtheline 2-2fin 8 I `ig. 1shovvingl onebasket in position on ,the

.upper supporting rails ofthe trolley. L

, Figi, 3 is a plan View of the basket adapted for my improved trolley, which has a pair of meat-receivingcompartmentsone of the com'-v partments lbeing' shown with apiece kof bacon prior tothe initialshaping andthe otherof said ycomp arftments having 'a 'similar ypiece of meat completely shaped according kto thev desired 'form `by the'improved cage member which forms one of the principal features of,

my invention.

f Figs. 4 yandk are sections along A*the'klines y .fi-tand 5-5,respectively, in Fig.'l3,looking 100 in thedirection'ofthe arrows.

obtained byfthe'use of dev-ices/whichare sus- 70' ceptible of easy yand rapid positioning inthe 1 baskets yWhich carry the meat 'on' the trolley, Vwith a corresponding yimprovement in the r 1 is a side elevation of a trolley i l Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of cage member as viewed from the underside thereof. Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of a cage member having the general shape illustrated in Fig. 3, but provided with different devices for engaging the same with the basket. y

Fig., 8 is an enlarged section along the line 8-8 in Fig. 7, looking in the arrows. f

*Fig 9 is an enlarged, sectional elevation showing a further modification of the appliances for connecting the cage member to the basket. l

,F ig. n10 is aperspective view showing a modification of the cage member illustrated in Fig. 6, the member inV the former ligure comprising a pair ofv relatively movable portions. n V

Referring to the drawings, the trolley consists of a skeleton framework having upright end bars 10 which are connected by several pairs of horizontal bars, such as 11, 12 and 13, each of said pairs being connected at the ends thereof adjacent the bars 10 by cross,-

ybars 14. In Fig. 1,fonly three pairs of the g horizontal bars are shown, but it willV be `13, may be provided with understood that as many pairs thereof may be employed as desired and it will be further Vnoted that the bars of each pair are s aced fromeach other, as shown clearly` in 2. The trolley frame isprovided with a hanger 15l in which is revolubly carried the trolley wheels 16 `which run along a raillT. `The horizontal bars12'and 13, as Well'asother bars which may be positioned ,under thebar a plurality of notches 18. The foregoing trolley Vframe is now in common use in the industry and,V in and ofitself forms no part of the present invention, but it has been utilized in a novel way in combination with the improvedtype of basket and restraining cage member hereinf after described to effect an improved system of loading and a superior type of the finished, smoked product. V

For purpose of, description, the basket presently described will be denoted as being of specialadvantage when used in the smoking of bacon, but it will be understood that other types of meat may be employed without affecting the central thought involved.

The meat basket 19 is preferably formed of wire screening or netting having any desired mesh and gauge of wire, but is preferably formed Vof, materialA of this character which will stand hard'usage without distor` tion or loss of its shape. The user of wire screening, or any generally foraminousmaterial, insures that the meat carried bythe basket will be effectively subjected tothe action of the heat and smoke during `the smoking pro-cess.

Each basket is formed with a pair of comdirection of the lof the former compartment joins with the side 24 of the latter compartment approximately midway of the end of said last named side.` Except for the partial side of the compartment 21 established bythe side 24 ofthe compartment 20,` both compartments may be gene-rally considered as having'only one end and side, thus affordinga means for quickly and easily compressing the shape of pieces of bacon placed therein according to the method which will now be described,regaid less of the marginal dimensions of the pieces or the irregular outline thereof, within the maximum'capacity of the; several compartments.

One type ofrthe restraining member used with my improvedbasketis `designated by the numeral 28, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 and this` member is formed of' the same iriaterial as isv the basket 19. The member 28 is formed generally as apartial cage of substantially rectangular shape and includes a top 29, a depending end 30 and adepending side 31. This end and sidek are connected at their adjacent ends toform a corner, leaving the respective, opposite `marginal edges of the top 29 freeof any depending portion for a purpose hereinafter explained. It will be observed, therefore, that the cave member 28 bears a general similarity to the shape and arrangement of the compartment 20 of the basket 19, if the latter weredisposed in an inverted position.. i

`When a piece of bacon is first placed in one ofthe .compartmentsof the basket 19, it will have the general, irregular shape designated by theinumeral 32 in Fig. 3. This shape is decidedly objectionable from a commercialstandpoint, so that I propose to shape the piecek of bacon according to the outline 'desired and smoke the same while in that 23 -thereoffto kthereby compress the bacon,

Vtrolley in the reclined, stacked position as hereinafter described, `it is contemplated that the .weight of the cage member 28 will be sufficient to maintain thegregu-lar Vshape of the piece of bacon 32 as above described, but in order` to "providel a more, positiva-yielding compression .of said piece, la coil spr1ng`33 may be hooked at one end to some convenient portion ofthe top 29 and at the opposite end i tothe lower corner of one of the compartments, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, it being understood that the process of initially shaping the bacon as above described ywith refer-l ence tothe compartment '20 is .also followed in respect of thecompartment 21, the compartment 21 in Fig. 3 showing the finished, compressed condition. of the bacon prior toV smoking. The springy 33 will exert :a downward, pulling force on the cage 28, assuming the basket tobe occupying a reclining position, substantially in the plane of the meat, thereby maintaining the cage in the intended position and constraining` and regularly shaping the Amarginal edges of the meat, between the cage and the walls of the basket. A second spring 34 may be hooked :at one end to the upper diagonal corner of the cage 28, defined by the junction gof the side 30 and end 31 thereof, the other end of saidspr-ing being hooked to a convenient portion yof the bottom 25 lofthe compartment 21 immediately below the npperend of the spring, or as close to this, position as the relation of the parts will permit, as shownin Fig. 4.1 The spring 34.- functions to draw the cage towards the bottom of the compartment and thus com.-`

presses the meat in adirection `substantially at right angles to .that effected by the Aspring The meat is, therefore, confined within a box-like enclosure during the smoking operation with manifest advantages in the.

character .of the product finally obtained.y ,By suitably positioning thesprings 33 and 34.-, any desired degree of compressive for-,ce may berexerted against the marginal edges fand upper and 'lower surfaces of the bacon 32,

said springs also serving at the same time to.

retain the cage member within .the several compartments of the basket 19 during handling thereof to and from the trolley.

.Assuming that both compartments of the basket 19 have been loaded inthe foregoing manner, the first basket will be-placed on the rails 12, preferably `resting in a pair of notches 18 thereof, and will be supported 'in a generally inclined position against the left hand end Ibar 10, as shown in Fig. l. It will be observed, from Fig. 2,.that the displaced arrangement of the compartments 20 and 21 permita positioning :of each basket 19 in a slightly canted positionfrom the vertical, or one Vin which the compartment 21 is suspended substantially between the ,bars 12 with the major portionv of `the compartment 20 disposed in overhanging relation thereto and to one of the bars 12. This arrangement Vis somewhat economical of space in the trol`` ley frame, but it will bennderstood that a regulararrangement of the compartments 20 and 21, vthat is one in whichthe compartments are not displaced lwith relation to each other,

is deemed to be within the scope of my invention. The first basket 19 having been placed in position as above described, succeeding bas vkets will likewise be carried by the rails 12 ina similar mannerand with each basket occupying a reclining position with respect toA the preceding basketin position. This reclining, 'stacked relationl of the baskets within one tier thereof, that is a single group of baskets supported by apair of rails suchV as 12, greatly increases the capacity of the trolley frame over similar methods hereto-V fore employed and substantially approxi mates in this respect the capacity of a trolley in which the pieces of bacon are suspended from hooks.

The tier of baskets having been completed on the rails 12, a similar tier will be supported on the rails 13, but with the individual baskets in an opposite, inclined direction. The eii'ect of valternately inclining the baskets in successive tiers Ithroughout the depth of the frame insures that the smoke and hot gases vduring the smoking process will pursuea slnuous -course, in risingI upwardly to time by the impervious slabs of bacon. This manner of arranging the path of the smoke and hot gases through the trolley framework provides for a more effective and intimate contact of'these elements with the surfaces of the bacon, than would otherwise be obtained.

In'the modified cagey member illustrated in Fig. 6, denoted generally by the numeral 35, said 4member comprises only an end portion 37 and a side portion 36 which are connected at their adjacent end edges to form a substantially L-shaped member. The lower edges of the portions 36and 37, adjacent their separated ends, are provided with spring clips 59, similar to the clips 43 shown in Fig.

7, for the purpose of securing the members ends of said portions adjacent the upper edges thereof. The use of the cage member 35 is identical with that of the member 28.

In Fig. 7 is illustrated a further modification of the cage member as indicated by the numeral 39. The member 39 is shaped generally similar to the member 28 and comprises a top 40, an end 4l and a side 42. The specific differentiation between the member 39 and the member 28 resides in the manner of maintaining the former cage member in position in one of the compartments of the basket and also in the mode of imparting a yieldable compression to the free marginal edges of the bacon. Specifically, this difference resides in the use of a which are secured at the upper ends thereof to a convenient horizontal rod 44 included within the end and side 4l and 42, respectively. The clips 43 are, preferably, formed of any suitable, springy material and their lower ends are bent slightly as at 45 for engagement with the rods 46 forming the bottom of one of the compartments of the basket. The cage member 39 compresses the bacon in the manner hereinbefore described and when a suitable force of compression has been applied to said bacon, the bent ends of the clips 43 will be engaged with the convenient rods 4S of the compartment bottom, thereby both securing the member 39 in position and also imparting a yieldable, compressive force to the edges of the bacon, while the character of the shaped ends permits ready disengagement of the cage from the basket.

A further suggestion for retaining the several. cage members above described in position during handlingr of the baskets is illustrated in Fig. 9. `Any of the cage members above described may have secured to a horizontal rod'4? provided inv an end or side 48, as the case may be, one end of a hook member 49. The hook portion 50 at the opposite end of said member will be moved into engagement with a convenient rod 5l forming apart of the compartment bottom 52, as close as possible te the lower edge of the portion 48 thereby compressingr the meat against the bottom of the compartment in a` somewhat similar manner as does the spring 34 in Fig. 4.

In Fig. l() is illustrated a modification of the cage member shown in Fig. 6, the former being denoted by the numeral 53 and consisting of a pair of portions 54 and 55, similar to the portions 36 and 3'?, respectively, in Fig. 6. which are secured together at their adiacenty ends by hinges 56. thereby permitting a relative movement of the portions 54 and 55, as may be desirable for Vcertain classes of meat. or may be required by peculiar operating conditions. Each of said portions is further provided with a pair of clips 57 secured thereto adjacent the opposite ends thereof and bent at their lower ends as at 58,

pair of clips 43` the clips 57, therefore, being identical with the clips 43 heretofore described. The manner of application ofthe cage member 53 is similar to that described above for the other types of cage members, but it will be noted that the hinged form of construction permits a relative movement of the component parts of said member and, therefore, a more accurate positioning thereof.

Whichever of the above type of cage members are employed, it will be obvious that the steps of the process which comprise the initial shaping of the soft and pliable pieces of bacon will be effected with great rapidity, owing to the facility with which the cage members may be placed in position in theseveral compartments of the basket. As before stated, and dependent upon' the methodof loading the trolley with the baskets, it is contemplated that the several securing members may be entirely eliminated and the compressive force applied to the marginal edges of the bacon lsimply by the weight of the cage member and also that the several types of connecting and yieldable devices above described may be used in individualunits, in pairs, or in any desired combination.

' lVhile I have shown one set of elements and combinations thereof for effectuating the foregoing structure, it will be understood that the same is intended for purpose of illustration only and in nowise to restrict my structure to the exact forms and combinations shown, for many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

l. The combination of a meat-receiving basket, and a cage member having a top, a side and end insertable in said basket, and means for connecting said member to said basket, said side and end cempressibly engaging two marginal edges of the meat against the sides of said basket to thereby shape and define all marginal edges of the meat.

2. The combination of a meat-receiving basket, and a cage member having a top, a side and end insertable in said basket, and spring means for yieldably connecting said members to said basket, said side and end compressibly engaging two marginal edges of the meat against the sides of said basket to thereby shape and define all marginal edges of the meat. Y

3. The combination of a meat-receiving basket, and a cage member having a top, a

- side and end insertable in said basket for engagement with certain marginal edges of the meat and shiftable substantially in the plane of said meat for compressing and defining all marginal edges between said member and the walls of said basket.

4. The combination of a meat-receiving basket, a cage-member having a top, a side and end insertable in said basket for engagement with certain marginal edges of the ymeat and shiftable substantially in the plane of said meat for compressing and defining all marginal edges between said member ,and the walls of said basket, andmeans for maintaining said memberin the shifted position.

5. The combination of a meat-receiving basket, a cage member having a top, a side and end insertable 1n said basket for engagement with certain marginal edges of the meat and 4shiftablesubstantially in the plane of` said meat for compressing and defining all marginal edges between said member and the walls of said basket, and yielding means for maintaining said member in the shifted position.

y6. The combination of a meat-receiving basket, a cage member having a top, a side and end insertable in said basket forengagement with certain marginal edges ofthe rmeat and shiftable substantially in the plane vof said meat for compressing and defining.v

all marginal edges between said member and thewalls of said basket, means for maintaining said member in the shifted position, and

means connecting said basket and ymember for compressibly engaging said meat .in a

direction substantially normal to that exertedv by said first named means.

7; The combination of basket, a cage member having a top, a side and kend insertable in said basket for engagement with certain marginal edges of the meat and shiftable substantially in the plane of said meat for compressing and defining all marginal edges between said member and the walls of said basket, yielding meansfor -r maintaining said member in the shifted position, and spring means connecting'said'basket and member for compressibly engaging said meat in a direction substantially normal to that exerted by ,said first named means.

8. The combination of a meat-receiving basket, a cage member insertable in said'basket for engagementywith certain marginal edges of the meat and shiftable substantially in the plane of said meat for compressing and defining all marginal edgcsbetween said member' and the walls of said basket, yielding means for maintaining said member in the shifted position, and yielding means connecting saidbasket andmember for compress# ibly engaging said meat in a direction substantially normal toithat exerted by said a meat-receivingV marginal edges of the meat between said basket and member. f

10. The combination of a basketl for porting meat during a smoking process comprising a foraminous bottom, a foraminous end and side for receiving and defining two marginaledgesof the meat to be compressed,

and a foraminou's cage member having a top, aside and end detachably 'and yieldably connected vto said lbasket for compressing and Sup-,

defining the other marginal edges of. they v f meat between said basket and member.

11. The combination of a basket for supporting meat during a smoking process com-r prising av pair of. compartments each having a foraminous bottom, a forammous end and side for receiving and defining two marginal f i partments.

L 12. In apparatus n, for shapingmeats for smokingfthe combination of a plurality ofy complementary-shaped, cage members forming when assembled a box-like enclosure for receivmgya; piece of kflat meat therein, said members being shiftable substantially in the plane of the meat to shapingly Aengage with e all marginal edges of the meat, and means for retaining the members'iin theadjusted position. n* 1 `13. `Infapparatus yfor shaping meats for smoking, the combination of a plurality of complementary-shaped, cage members forming when assembled a box-like enclosure for receiving a .piece of flat meat therein, said members being shiftable, substantiallyin the g plane ofl the meat to shapingly engage .with yall marginal'edges of the meat, and spring means for yieldingly maintaining the members inthe adjusted position.' c

e In testimony whereof, Ihave subscribed my name.A

ALONZO NEWTON BENN. i

first named means, lboth of said means being connected to said cageat a'pair of oppositey corners thereof.

9. The combination of a basket forsup-y i porting meat during a smoking process comprising a foraminous bottom, a foraminous` end and side for receiving and defining two marginal edges of the meat to be compressed,

and a foraminous cage member having a top, a side and end detachablyconnected to said basket for compressing and defining the other 

